This Month's Latest Tech News in Newark, NJ - Wednesday April 30th 2025 Edition

Newark stands at the forefront of AI and technology innovation this spring, thanks to a landmark partnership between Choose New Jersey and Foundry that grants local startups priority, affordable access to AI-focused GPU compute clusters - removing a longstanding growth obstacle for emerging companies.

As Wesley Mathews, President & CEO of Choose New Jersey, affirms:

“New Jersey is committed to fostering a thriving AI ecosystem, and access to scalable, affordable compute is a critical factor for early-stage companies looking to grow and compete.”

In this climate, Newark-based startups like AlphaROC and Algoma are leveraging such advantages to drive advancements in AI-powered business analytics and automated real estate development, supported by groundbreaking state programs and grants (see more on Newark's strategic AI compute initiative).

This surge aligns with record-setting national trends, where AI startups attracted $59.6 billion - over half of all global Q1 2025 funding, largely concentrated in advanced cloud and machine learning platforms (explore the global AI startup funding landscape).

Powering this growth is a robust network of investors - such as Sequoia, NEA, and Lightspeed - fueling innovation in Newark and beyond; for a comprehensive list, consult the top 50 AI startup investors worldwide.

The result is an unprecedented foundation for tech-driven job creation, equity, and prosperity in Newark's rapidly evolving technology ecosystem.

New Jersey has become a national leader in digital rights protection by enacting a groundbreaking law criminalizing the creation and dissemination of AI-generated deepfakes, inspired in large part by the advocacy of Westfield High School student Francesca Mani, herself a deepfake survivor.

The bipartisan legislation, signed by Governor Phil Murphy in Newark this April, targets those who produce or share deceptive media for unlawful purposes, imposing penalties of up to five years in prison and fines reaching $30,000, with additional civil remedies available for victims.

The law aims to curb the misuse of AI in personal harassment and election interference - a growing concern nationwide as at least 20 states have adopted similar measures.

The table below highlights key aspects of the new law:

Provision	Details
Crime Classification	Creation and sharing of deceptive deepfake media
Punishment	Up to 5 years in prison; fines up to $30,000
Civil Action	Victims can file lawsuits

“Just about any bad actor can use artificial intelligence to produce hyper-realistic images and videos that can exploit children, teenagers, and, frankly, anyone,” said Governor Murphy.
Francesca Mani added, “Doing nothing is no longer an option.”

With these robust penalties, New Jersey's new law delivers a clear message: digital deception will not be tolerated, and individuals - especially youth - will receive protection and recourse against AI-fueled harm.

Read more from Fortune's report on criminalizing deepfakes, Insider NJ's legislative summary, and New Jersey Monitor's in-depth coverage.

Rutgers University–Newark has officially launched the Institute for Data, Research, and Innovation Science (IDRIS), establishing a new hub for interdisciplinary research focused on leveraging AI and data science to improve urban community wellbeing.

The institute, which held its inaugural event on April 14, 2025, at Express Newark, brings together leaders in academia, government, and industry to address challenges in health care, education, public safety, and equity.

IDRIS is funded by the ROADMAPS grant from Rutgers Academic Affairs and aims to increase public and student data literacy while advancing applied, ethical AI practices.

Executive Director Fay Cobb Payton emphasized the human impact of these technologies, stating,

“IDRIS is interested in asking, how does this impact the community and the human experience?”

Lt.

Governor Tahesha Way, speaking at the launch event, called attention to the institute's alignment with state innovation goals and the importance of adopting recommendations from New Jersey's recent AI policy report.

Notably, IDRIS will foster partnerships across community organizations, state and local government, and corporate partners to drive innovation. For a deeper look at IDRIS's mission, campus events, and community collaborations, visit the official IDRIS launch event page, read the NJBiz feature on Rutgers-Newark's AI initiative, and explore the official Rutgers University - Newark announcement.

Rutgers researchers are pioneering the use of generative artificial intelligence to revolutionize heart disease detection by transforming standard electrocardiogram (ECG) readings into sophisticated heart motion analyses, traditionally only possible through costly echocardiograms.

This innovative AI-driven platform, developed collaboratively by Rutgers Health and RWJBarnabas Health, enables clinicians to extract detailed cardiac function data from routine ECGs - making advanced diagnostics more accessible and affordable for patients, including those who may never visit a specialist's office.

The project recently received a $2.4 million grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to advance tools capable of predicting future cardiac complications, with the principal investigator, Dr. Partho Sengupta, emphasizing:

“ECG is very inexpensive. It's even present in the Apple Watch, so millions use it constantly. An echocardiogram is about 5 to 10 times more expensive than an ECG because it requires an expert…”

Beyond lowering costs, AI solutions also promise equity in cardiac care, with ongoing efforts to minimize technical complexity and improve home-based diagnosis.

The new technology not only consolidates significant patient data for nuanced risk analysis but also supports doctors in creating personalized treatment plans.

As summarized in this simple table, key benefits include enhanced accuracy, accessibility, and immediate insights for early intervention:

Feature	Traditional ECG	AI-Augmented ECG (Rutgers)
Cost	Low	Low
Data Depth	Electrical activity only	Electrical + motion signals
Remote Use	Limited	Home & telemedicine enabled
Clinical Insight	Rhythm irregularities	Comprehensive cardiac function

Learn more about Rutgers' synthetic echocardiogram platform in Rutgers' official synthetic echocardiogram technology summary, explore the clinical impact via Rutgers' announcement on AI recreating heart motion, and read how this technology is transforming early heart disease detection at Life Technology's AI heart disease detection coverage.

Newark's tech landscape is witnessing a leap forward in ethical, automated hiring as Jobvious and VeriKlick join forces to set a new standard for bias-free recruitment.

Their partnership brings together Jobvious' incentive-driven referral network with VeriKlick's advanced AI verification tools, delivering real-time candidate authentication, AI-driven interviews, and comprehensive skill assessments to streamline and secure talent acquisition.

As Brad Beach, CEO of Jobvious, explains,

“With this partnership, we're enhancing our ability to deliver pre-matched, pre-vetted, high-quality talent through a seamless referral and verification process. VeriKlick's AI-powered tools will enable companies to validate candidate credentials and ensure bias-free hiring decisions - all while leveraging the power of Jobvious' referral-driven talent pipeline.”

This alliance offers key features such as biometric identity validation, AI-crafted interview questions, and data-driven decision support, so companies can hire both efficiently and equitably in light of New Jersey's reinforced anti-discrimination policies for AI in employment.

Recent guidance reminds employers that New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination applies not only to human decisions but also to algorithmic ones, urging regular bias audits and human oversight to avoid legal pitfalls (New Jersey Guidance on AI: Employers Must Comply With State Anti-Discrimination Standards).

Industry adoption continues to climb, with 65% of small business HR leaders now relying on AI - though experts stress the importance of transparency and compliance (Considerations Around Biases in AI Hiring Tools).

For a closer look at the technology and holistic hiring approach behind VeriKlick's platform, which spans everything from automated interviews to candidate analytics, visit their dedicated AI Recruitment Solutions page.

New Jersey's blockchain sector is experiencing a significant uptick in innovation and investment, positioning the state as a leader in the digital asset economy.

The New Jersey Innovation & Technology Alliance (NJITA) is proactively demystifying blockchain, cryptocurrency, and AI through statewide town halls designed to bridge industry and policymakers, fostering policies that support technological growth and job creation.

As of 2025, New Jersey hosts over 200 blockchain and Web3 startups and has attracted $2.8 billion in venture capital, ranking fourth nationally in Web3 investment according to the U.S. Blockchain Coalition's 2024 report.

Metric	Value
Blockchain/Web3 Startups	200+
Venture Capital for Web3	$2.73B
National VC Ranking	4th in US

Executive Director Carlos Iván Merino notes,

“New Jersey has a strong foundation as a technology and business hub, with a thriving digital asset ecosystem and a growing number of companies leveraging blockchain, artificial intelligence, and next-generation technologies to drive economic growth.”

Academic institutions like Rutgers and Princeton are fueling this momentum with specialized programs in blockchain applications for cybersecurity and smart contracts.

While the digital asset community flourishes, state regulators such as the Bureau of Securities have reinforced the necessity for legal compliance - recently halting unregistered crypto offerings to protect investors and uphold integrity in the market, as detailed by the NJ Bureau of Securities' order against Celsius.

Major investment firms, including Pantera Capital, underline New Jersey's vital role by channeling billions into blockchain startups.

To advance public understanding and facilitate thoughtful policy, organizations like the NJITA continue to convene educational town halls connecting industry experts, academics, and legislators, ensuring New Jersey remains a dynamic hub for blockchain innovation.

The much-anticipated FTC v. Meta antitrust trial kicked off in Washington, D.C. this month, scrutinizing whether Meta's acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp were executed to stifle competition and illegally monopolize the personal social networking market.

The FTC's core claim is that these purchases - cleared over a decade ago - enabled Meta to neutralize future rivals, echoing internal correspondence such as Mark Zuckerberg's statement:

"It is better to buy than compete."

If successful, the FTC may force Meta to divest Instagram or WhatsApp, a move with potential ripple effects across the tech and startup landscape.

The proceeding has drawn national attention given possible implications for billions in advertising revenue, the U.S. startup ecosystem, and the boundaries of government power in reversing previously approved mergers.

Meta disputes the charges, emphasizing the presence of fierce competitors like TikTok and YouTube and highlighting the risks of setting a precedent that could deter investments and harm small businesses.

As antitrust enforcement sharpens, Newark technologists and entrepreneurs are watching closely, mindful that judicial remedies might re-shape how digital platforms operate locally and nationally.

For a comprehensive breakdown of the trial's stakes, defenses, and market implications, read this in-depth FTC vs. Meta expert analysis.

For insight into Meta's financial exposure and lobbying efforts, see Adweek's coverage of the advertising stakes.

To understand how antitrust decisions could alter the startup ecosystem, explore the SBE Council's perspective on M&A and small business growth.

Trial Start	Key Acquisitions Challenged	Potential Remedies	Estimated Instagram 2025 Ad Revenue	FTC Chair
April 14, 2025	Instagram ($1B, 2012); WhatsApp ($19B, 2014)	Divestiture; Interoperability	>$32 billion (eMarketer)	Andrew Ferguson

As Newark schools and colleges navigate the rapid evolution of AI in education, new data reveals the scale and complexity of the challenge. According to a global study by Turnitin on AI usage in student papers, 11% of more than 200 million student papers reviewed since April 2023 had at least 20% AI-generated content, and roughly 3% were composed of 80% or more AI-generated writing.

This trend is echoed in a recent Turnitin survey on student and educator concerns about AI in academics that found 64% of students are more worried about the use of AI in academics than their educators, revealing a generational divide on AI's implications for academic integrity.

Schools like Essex County College have issued policies clarifying that unauthorized AI use is considered plagiarism, while many universities, facing concerns about false positives and bias in detection, are reevaluating outright bans and detection software.

As summarized in Montclair State University's review,

"The validity of automatic AI detection is currently impossible to guarantee... AI detectors miss AI-generated content quite often. At the same time, it is not uncommon for them to flag human-written content as AI-generated."

Montclair's discontinuation of Turnitin's AI detection software underscores these challenges.

Educators are shifting toward nuanced guidance on responsible AI use, advocating transparency, critical verification, and evolving policies to meet this new reality.

The following table summarizes key findings from recent research:

Metric	Value
Papers reviewed by Turnitin	200+ million
Share with ≥20% AI text	11% (22 million)
Share with ≥80% AI text	3% (6 million)
Students concerned about AI use	64%
States with public school AI guidelines	5

Rutgers-Newark has unveiled the Institute for Data, Research, and Innovation Science (IDRIS), positioning the university at the forefront of tackling AI's ethical and social challenges while strengthening its community impact.

IDRIS serves as an interdisciplinary hub, fostering collaboration across academia, public agencies, and local partners to ensure AI and data science are applied responsibly in domains like healthcare, education, and public safety.

As Executive Director Fay Cobb Payton emphasizes,

“IDRIS is interested in asking, how does this impact the community and the human experience?”

This ethos was at the heart of the Institute's April 14 launch, which featured keynote speakers and hands-on workshops to advance equitable and ethical AI adoption.

Notably, IDRIS is also contributing to ongoing policy conversations, building on the recommendations in New Jersey's governor's AI report and nurturing public data literacy.

The institute regularly hosts lecture series and workshops - such as “Lives In Translation and IDRIS: Neither Magic Wand Nor Enemy” - to help faculty and students integrate AI responsibly across disciplines, particularly in the humanities and social sciences.

For in-depth coverage, read about the official launch of IDRIS and its ethical mandate, see details on IDRIS's kickoff workshops and speaker events, and explore how the institute aims to advance community well-being through AI and innovation.

AI's influence may be more accurately described as a slow-burning disruptor, shaping society gradually rather than through sudden leaps, as emphasized by Princeton researchers Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor in their project and book, AI as Normal Technology.

Their analysis points out that while AI methods are advancing rapidly, their adoption and societal impact occur over years or decades due to human, organizational, and regulatory factors, echoing the slow transformation seen with innovations like electrification.

In a recent conversation at Princeton, the authors stress the importance of distinguishing between predictive and generative AI and warn against both hype and pessimism, advocating for interdisciplinary, evidence-based public engagement to cut through sensationalism (AI Snake Oil: A conversation with Princeton AI experts Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor).

This level-headed perspective is supported by the 2025 International AI Safety Report, which highlights the incremental nature of real-world AI adoption and underscores the complex risks - ranging from bias and reliability concerns to labor market impacts and systemic market concentration - that demand flexible, coordinated approaches.

As summarized by Professor Yoshua Bengio, the report's chair,

“The future of general-purpose AI is deeply uncertain with a wide range of possible outcomes…human choices shape AI's future - path depends on societies' and governments' decisions today.”

The table below distills some key risks outlined in the report:

Risk Category	Examples
Malicious Use	Scams, deepfakes, cyberattacks
Malfunctions	Hallucination, bias, loss of control
Systemic Risks	Labor disruption, market concentration, environment

For a deeper dive on how advancing AI impacts governance, safety, and public trust globally, see the International AI Safety Report 2025.

Newark's schools are embracing a multi-faceted strategy to advance digital and critical literacy as they integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into classrooms, positioning students for success in an evolving technological landscape.

The district's 10-year plan prioritizes the integration of the Khanmigo AI chatbot - developed by Khan Academy - across 14 North Ward schools, aiming to personalize instruction and enhance teachers' capacity for data-driven decision making while supporting professional development and extending tutoring opportunities district-wide.

Statewide, New Jersey has rolled out foundational AI guidance and educator resources focused on fostering safe, responsible adoption in schools, with Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, emphasizing,

“We know that school districts can't just say privacy matters. There has to be a tech translator, there have to be parent information sessions, and there has to be classroom guidance.”

These efforts dovetail with grassroots initiatives like Rutgers-Newark and My Brothers Keeper's early literacy community, which builds educator expertise in evidence-based reading and writing instruction to help close learning gaps.

Additionally, Newark recently earned recognition as a 2024 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer for citywide efforts to expand affordable high-speed internet - from $15 monthly plans reaching over 1,600 housing units to workforce training in broadband installation.

The table below highlights key recent digital literacy investments and outcomes:

Initiative	Details & Impact
Khanmigo AI Tutor	Launched in 14 schools for grades 3-8; supports advanced mathematics and literacy, teacher PD, and tutoring expansion
Digital Equity	City recognized as a Digital Inclusion Trailblazer; 1,600+ public housing units connected, affordable plans save families up to $700/year
Early Literacy Community	Professional learning for educators, collaboration with Rutgers, supporting literacy growth post-pandemic

For more, read detailed reporting on Newark's AI curriculum expansion by Chalkbeat's coverage of Newark AI curriculum expansion, the city's digital inclusion award via the Newark News Portal on Digital Inclusion Award, and state-level policy guidance via NJ Spotlight News on AI Policy Guidance in New Jersey Schools.

Newark's trajectory as an AI and technology leader is propelled by dynamic initiatives that bridge innovation, industry, and learning. Rutgers-Newark's newly launched Institute for Data, Research, and Innovation Science (IDRIS) exemplifies this drive, focusing on leveraging AI and interdisciplinary data to enhance health care, education, and public safety while increasing public data literacy and training new generations of technologists.

As Executive Director Fay Cobb Payton emphasizes,

“IDRIS is interested in asking, how does this impact the community and the human experience?”

Equally important, New Jersey's policy landscape is evolving to balance growth with ethics, evidenced by new laws strictly regulating deceptive AI-generated media and earning national recognition for their blend of civil and criminal penalties (New Jersey's AI ‘deepfake' ban).

The state's substantial funding programs - such as up to $500 million in AI tax credits and $3.8 million toward the AI Innovation Challenge - further strengthen Newark's innovation ecosystem by connecting startups, investors, and research institutions (AI economic development grants).

Community resources like Newark Venture Partners, TechLaunch, and NJIT's forthcoming AI Literacy Microcredential cultivate talent and support tech entrepreneurship across backgrounds (top Newark startup incubators).

For aspiring technologists, career pathways are robust: Nucamp offers accessible bootcamps in cybersecurity, web, back end, and full stack development, with flexible schedules, monthly payments, and a variety of scholarship options, ensuring Newark's local workforce is poised to shape the future of AI and technology for years to come.